Christian Standard Bible
Isaiah 61:3
3to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord to glorify him.
Isaiah 61:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
- New International Version (NIV)and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
- English Standard Version (ESV)to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
- New King James Version (NKJV)To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Context of Isaiah 61:3
1The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; 2to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord to glorify him. 4They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the former devastations; they will renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. 5Strangers will stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners will be your plowmen and vinedressers.
Read all of Isaiah 61Isaiah 61:3 word by word
לָשׂ֣וּם׀ לַאֲבֵלֵ֣י צִיּ֗וֹן לָתֵת֩ לָהֶ֨ם פְּאֵ֜ר תַּ֣חַת אֵ֗פֶר שֶׁ֤מֶן שָׂשׂוֹן֙ תַּ֣חַת אֵ֔בֶל מַעֲטֵ֣ה תְהִלָּ֔ה תַּ֖חַת ר֣וּחַ כֵּהָ֑ה וְקֹרָ֤א לָהֶם֙ אֵילֵ֣י הַצֶּ֔דֶק מַטַּ֥ע יְהוָ֖ה לְהִתְפָּאֵֽר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- To appointשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
- unto them that mournאָבֵל'âbêl · mourningH57
- in Zionצִיּוֹןtsîyôn · ZionH6726
- to giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- unto them beautyפְּאֵרpe'êr · headdressH6287
- for ashesאֵ֫פֶר'êpher · ashesH665
- the oilשֶׁ֫מֶןshemen · oilH8081
- of joyשָׂשׂוֹןώâώôn ώâώôn · rejoicingH8342
- for mourningאֵ֫בֶל'êbel · mourningH60
- the garmentמַעֲטֶהma‛ăţeh · mantleH4594
- of praiseתְּהִלָּהtehillâh · praiseH8416
- for the spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
- of heavinessכֵּהֶהkêheh · faintH3544
- that they might be calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call byH7121
- treesאַ֫יִל'ayil · terebinthH352
- of righteousnessצֶ֫דֶקtsedeq · righteousnessH6664
- the plantingמַטָּעmaţţâ‛ · plantationH4302
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- that he might be glorifiedפָּאַרpâ'ar · to beautifyH6286
Cross-references for Isaiah 61:3
- Isaiah 12:1On that day you will say: “I will give thanks to you, Lord, although you were angry with me. Your anger has turned away, and you have comforted me.
- Esther 4:1When Mordecai learned all that had occurred, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, went into the middle of the city, and cried loudly and bitterly.
- Esther 8:15Mordecai went from the king’s presence clothed in royal blue and white, with a great gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. The city of Susa shouted and rejoiced,
- Esther 9:22because during those days the Jews gained relief from their enemies. That was the month when their sorrow was turned into rejoicing and their mourning into a holiday. They were to be days of feasting, rejoicing, and of sending gifts to one another and to the poor.
- Psalms 30:11You turned my lament into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
- Ezekiel 16:8“‘Then I passed by you and saw you, and you were indeed at the age for love. So I spread the edge of my garment over you and covered your nakedness. I pledged myself to you, entered into a covenant with you — this is the declaration of the Lord God — and you became mine.
- Psalms 23:5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
- Psalms 45:7You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy more than your companions.
- Psalms 104:15wine that makes human hearts glad — making his face shine with oil — and bread that sustains human hearts.
- Ecclesiastes 9:8Let your clothes be white all the time, and never let oil be lacking on your head.
- John 16:20Truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.
- Isaiah 61:10I rejoice greatly in the Lord, I exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a groom wears a turban and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
- Zechariah 3:5Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So a clean turban was placed on his head, and they clothed him in garments while the angel of the Lord was standing nearby.
- Luke 15:22“But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
- Revelation 7:9After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands.
- Isaiah 60:21All your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever; they are the branch I planted, the work of my hands, so that I may be glorified.
Commentaries on Isaiah 61:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion "To impart gladness to the mourners of Zion" - A word necessary to the sense is certainly lost in this place, of which the ancient Versions have preserved no traces. Houbigant, by conjecture, inserts the word ששון sason, gladness, taken from the line next but one below, where it stands opposed to אבל ebel, sorrow or mourning, as the word lost here was to אבלי abeley, mourners: I follow him. - L. Beauty for ashes "A…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3To appoint unto them - Hebrew, To place;‘ that is, to place happiness before them; to give them joy arid consolation. That mourn in Zion - (See the notes at Isaiah 1:8). The mourners in Zion mean those who dwelt in Jerusalem; then all those who are connected with the church of God - his poor and afflicted people. To give unto them beauty for ashes - In the Hebrew there is here a beautiful paronomasia, which cannot be transferred to our language - אפר תחת…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3Putting ashes on one's head showed mourning (note the change from the judgment in Isaiah 3:16–25). Mourning would turn into joy. In Hebrew, the words for crown of beauty and ashes form a wordplay. oil of joy: A face covered with oil showed blessing and well-being (see Psalms 45:8; 133:2). The remnant would begin as small shoots. They would seem weak and unimportant at first. But over time, they would grow strong and large, like great oak trees (see Isaiah…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. To appoint ... to give--The double verb, with the one and the same accusative, imparts glowing vehemence to the style. beauty for ashes--There is a play on the sound and meaning of the Hebrew words, peer, epher, literally, "ornamental headdress" or tiara (Eze 24:17), worn in times of joy, instead of a headdress of "ashes," cast on the head in mourning (2Sa 13:19). oil of joy--Perfumed ointment was poured on the guests at joyous feasts (Psa 23:5; 45:7…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 61:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 61
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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